Machine foe eliminatinc metals from theie matrices



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet i.

W. L. CARD. MACHINE FOR ELIMINATING METALS FROM THEIR MATRICES. No.347,868. Patented Aug. 24, 1886.

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W. L! CARD. MACHINE FOR'ELIMINATING METALS FROM THEIR MATRICES.

Patented Aug. 24, 1886.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. L. CARD. MAGHINE FOR BLIMINATING METALS mom THEIR MATRICES. No.347,868. Patented Aug. 24, 1886.

Witwaooab amvawto'c y -NITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. CARD, OF LA OROSSE, YVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE TIERRA SEGA.MINING COMPANY.

MACHINE FOR ELIMINATING METALS FROM THEIR MATRICES.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 347,868, dated August24, 1886.

Application filed March 26, i886.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM L. CARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State ofW'isconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Eliminating Metals from their Matrices; and I herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is a rear elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, and Fig. 4 is a top orplanview, of the same, the hopper having been removed. Fig. 5 is a top viewdetached of the separators or ore-beds and the branch pipes and flexibleconnection leading from the blast-fan to the ore beds or separarators.Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views. Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective viewof the vibrating frame for the separator. Fig. 9 is a detached view ofthe upper, and Fig. 10 a similar view of the lower, bar of said frame.Fig. 11 is a side elevation, and Fig. 12 a bottom view, of the frame Tor Wobbler-frame, and its adjustable Wobbler-blocks.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

.My present invention relates to the combi nation of a series ofcoacting devices, whereby placer-dirts or other auriferous earths may bepulverized, screened, and separated by a continuous operation, and tothe relative construction of the individual elements, whereby the saidcombination is rendered possible and effective.

As is well understood placer-gold is found in a great variety ofmatrices-such as disintegrated and decomposed rock, clay, black sand,gravel, or mixtures of these and other matterswhile the gold itselfranges from flour (or very fine) gold to scale gold, flake gold, shotgold, and nuggets. \Vher'e, as is frequently the case, all grades aswell as the extremes in both gold and matrix are found in the auriferousearth to be treated itis evident that the violence of the vibration ofthe machine and the volume and force of the blast necessary to separatethe coarser and heavier Serial No. 196,733. (No model.)

particles of matrix and gold, will result in carrying much of the finegold into the tailings, notwithstanding the different gravities of thecomponents. It is evident, therefore, that in order to obtain the bestresults, a complete machine should embrace means, first, for reducingthe matrix as far as practicable to uniform sizes and with as littleexpenditure of power as possible; second, for sorting the material, soas to confine the materials within ranges, upon which it is practical touse a blast of given volume and force; and, third, means for treatingtwo or more grades of material in a single machine.

The object of my present invention is to provide a machine which shallfulfill these stated conditions or requirements; and to this end,broadly stated, it consists in a machine for eliminating precious metalsfrom their matrices, comprising a screen having bars with crowningcentral ridges, sloping sides, and intervening slots which graduallyincrease in width from head to tail of the screen, and a series ofseparators having pockets containing shot or equivalent material, and,also, in details of construction, whereby said separators and screensmay be effectively combined and caused to coact, substantially as willhereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more specifically, so thatothers skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A indicates a suitable frame for the support of theseveral operative devices; B, the hopper of pulverizer C; D, the screenfor sorting or sizing the crushed and. pulverized material; E E, theseparators or ore-beds, and F the fan for creating a blast.

Any suitable pulverizer may be employed, but that preferred by me is ofthe general construction described in application, Serial No. 196,735,filed of even date herewith-that is to say, having feed-gates a, (seeFig. 4,) just be-' low the hopper and over the crushing and pulverizingroller 0', and a concave made up of a series of spring-actuated sectionsor fingers, 0". (See Fig. 1.) The shaft of roller 0 may be provided witha crank-arm, o or a bandpulley, c", or both, and may be geared by meansof suitable pinions, 0" c, with the shaft d,which vibrates the screen.

The pulverize'r is arranged at one end of the machine and supported bythe uprights-A and cross-timbers a, of the frame A, with itsdelivery-spout over the upper end of the sorting or sizing screen D.

D indicates the screen, which is suspended below the pulverizer,preferably in a slightlyinclined position, and'from the horizontal armorjib a, by the pivoted links d d, and is vibrated longitudinally by alink or rod, dflfrom a crank on the shaft d, said shaft receiving itspower from the roller-shaft, as hereinbefore specified, or in anysuitable manner.

I prefer a screen of an adjustable character,

and have chosen for purposes of illustration the devices which form thesubject-matter of an application, Serial No. 197,091, filed by me March27, 1886, wherein the screen-bars b have raised or crowning uppersurfaces, and are adjustable laterally, so that the screen-openings (oropenings between the bars) may be made more or less divergent from headto tail of said screen. If a detail description of said screen isdesired, reference may be had to application No. 197,091, as abovenoted.

Beneath the screen-bars are a series of chutes, corresponding in numberto the number of grades into which it is desirable to separate thematerial and to the number of ore-beds or separators employed. In thepresent instance two leaders or chutes are shown, the first, I), (seeFigs. 1, 2, and 8,) which collects the material from the upper half ortwo-thirds of the screen and delivers it to the separator E, (for thefiner material,) and the other, I), which collects it from the lowerhalf or one-third and delivers it to the separator or ore-bed E, (forthe coarser material.) The limitation of the number of screen-chutes andseparators is only a question of practicability. Extending be into theore-beds or separators E E, which may be of any character adapted toseparate the precious metal from the earthy matter; but, as in manydistricts water is unobtainable, I have a preference for dry orair-blast separators, and for purposes of illustration have selected oneof that class; and, furthermore, in order to indicate the best means nowknown to me, I have selected (for purpose of illustration only and notfor limitation) that special separator or ore-bed which forms thesubject matter of application Serial No. 196,732, filed byme of evendate herewith, wherein the ore-bed is composed of a series of pocketsfilled with shot or equivalent material, and is vibrated laterally ofthe'bed or longitudinally of the pockets by suitable mechanism. ISpecific illustration and description thereof, if desired, maybe foundin the case referred to, but is omitted here, as its specific detail ofconstruction forms no part of the present case, and is not hereinclaimed.

Two or more of the above separators, or any equivalent thereto, areused, and if said separators be dry or air-blast separators, thefollowing devices for combining and operating the same arepreferred-that is to say, I employ a separator frame or bed composed ofcross-timbers e 0 having inclined depressions or bevel edges 0, for thereception of the given numbers of separators or ore'beds, (E E, &c.,)and suspended by links or pivoted hangers e from the longitudinal barsa", so as to be ca pable of lateral vibration. The links or hangers eare connected by the pivot-rods e,- and in addition to the four (4)corner or suspension hangers e there are two hangers, e", placedcentrally (see Figs. 2 and 8) at one side of and sufficiently elongatedto embrace at their lower ends the -frame T, (see Fig. 8 and detachedviews of same in Figs. 6,11, and 12,) while another pair of hangers, H,(see Figs. 3 and 8,) are used to embrace and support the frame T in ahorizontal position just above the cam or wobbling wheel W on thecounter-shaft w. On the under side of the frame T are twofriction-blocks, t t, with slotted bolt-holes for adjustable bearingagainst the side faces of the cam or wobbling wheel \V, for the purposeof taking up the wear from time to time. The vertical cross-piece t ofthe frame T has three holes, honc in the horizontal central plane of theframe T, one above, and the third below, said frameand the two longcentral hangers, a which embrace the head i of the said frame T, arecorrespondingly perforated, so that if the coupling-pin was placed inthe upper holes the ore-beds would have greater lateral movement than ifsaid pin was placed in the lower holes. The pivots e of the hangersbeing fixed points, while the frame T has a positive movement from thewobbling wheel or cam, it follows that varying the distance from thepivots e to the point of connection of the hangers with the frame T willvary the throw of the bed or frame.

The ore-beds are placed in the longitudinallyinclined depressions of theseparator-frame, and secured by means of wedges w 10, which form a readymeans of not only securing the ore-beds effectively, but also of readilydetaching the beds when cleaning up. The countershaft w, which carriesthe wobblerWand i mparts motion to the orebed .frame, may be providedwith a band wheel, w", th rough which it is driven bya belt, 10, from abandwheel, d, .on the shaft (1, and may-be provided with a second pulleyor band-wheel, w, by which, through a belt, f, it drives the fanshaft fof fan F. In lieu of the band-wheel and belts any other known drivingmechanism may be employed.

F indicates a fan, by means of which a regulated blast of any desiredvolumeand force may be obtained, and said fan may be arranged at therear of the machine below the pulverizer O, and supported on a box, F.Said box may have lids on the two sides of the fan, and be adapted forstoring the tools necessary for use about the machine. The pipe fleading from the mouth of the fan, is divided up into a number ofbranches corresponding to the number of ore-beds or separators employed. Inthe present instance the branches are f leading to the ore-bed E,andf",leading t0 the orebed E, and the connections ,between saidbranches and the vibrating ore-bed are of a flexible character.

G indicates the flexible tubes, each of said tubes being secured at oneend to the separa tor (Eor E) by a flange, g, and provided at the otherwith a re-enforced sleeve or collar, 9', which is simply pulled over theend of branched air-pipe and up against the shoulder of the branchedpipe,where, if properly fitted, it will remain without necessity offurther attachments.

If desired, the branch pipes f and f may each be provided with a valvefor controlling the volume of the blast; but when the separator isprovided with a valve (seef Fig. 7) it is unnecessary.

The devices being of the general character and arrangement hereinbeforespecified will operate as follows: The placer-dirt or auriferous earthbeing fed to the hopperB and thence to the pulverizer O, which 'is setin operation by power suitably applied, is crushed and tritu rated anddelivered in a pulverized condition on the upper end or head of thescreen D, which latter is vibrated longitudinally from the shaft (1through link or rod (1 The crushed and pulverized material passesdownward over the inclined screen D, the spaces between whose bars-bgradually increase from head to tail of the screen, so that the grade ofmaterial which escapes through the screen between the bars for the firsthalf or two-thirds of the length of the screen falls into the leader orchute b, and is carried to the ore-bed or separator E, while that whichescapes through the screen between the bars at the lower half or thirdscreen falls into the leader or chute b and is delivered into theore-bed or separator E, and the gangue or refuse which escapes over thescreen falls upon inclined shelf or table 1), and thence into thetailings beyond the machine. These ore-beds E and E have a lateralvibrating motion imparted to them, as before specified, and each ore-bedis prepared ac cording to the material or grade of the material passingover each-an ore-bed of finer material where the material to be treatedis fine, and of coarser material where the material to be treated iscoarser-so as to obtain greater or less resistanee in the orebed, all asis fully described in my application, Serial No. 196,732, hereinbeforereferred to. It is of course understood that the valves f of theseparators (or their equivalents in the branches f y) have been set toregulate the volume of air passing to each ore-bed, according to thecharacter of the material to be treated on each ore-bed. The gangue orrefuse from the ore-beds will flow from the ends of said bed into thetailings or matters rejected by the screen.

It is not necessary to go into a detail de scription of the operation ofthe ore-beds, as the same is well understood so far as it relates tojiggers and air or wet and dry machines now in use, and so far asregards the operation of the preferred form of dry separator it can beascertained from the description in application Serial No. 196,732,hereinbefore referred to.

As the construction of the screen causes the fiat metal or flake metalto pass the screen near the head thereof with the fine matrix, 850.,from which it is most readily separated, such a screen has special valuein combination with a plurality of any kind of separators, and as thecharacter of separators shown will, owing to the vibration and thematerial with which its pockets are filled to form the permeable mobilemass or orebed, readily separate the flake metal from the coarser ma-Mix, it is evident that a plurality of such sep arators have specialvalue when combined with any screen which does not deliver the flakemetal until it also delivers coarse matrix; and, further, as theparticular form or class of screen described is adapted to grade by sizeand shape the shot or other mobile permeable mass with which the pocketsof the separator are to be charged, it is evident the screen itself hasadditional valuable features in combination with the special class ofseparators chosen for purposes of illustration. Therefore,

Having thus described the nature, operation, and advantages of myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A machine for eliminating metals from their matrices, comprising agrading-screen composed of bars having centrally raised or crowningupper surfaces, and slots which in crease in width from head to tail ofthe screen, and a plurality of separators arranged with such relationthereto that a different grade of material is delivered to eachseparator from said screen, substantially as and for thepurposesspecified.

2. A machine for eliminating metals from their matrices, comprising aplurality of vi brating separators having pockets containing shot orlike graded material to form a permeable mobile mass or ore-bed, and agradingscreen arranged to deliver a different grade of material to eachseparator of the series, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

3. A machine for eliminating metals from their matrices, comprising aplurality of separators having pockets containing shot or like material,and a grading-screen having slots which increase in width from the headto the tail of the screen, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

4. The combination, with the vibrating separatorframe, of pendenthangers projecting 5 below the frame, a Wobbler-frame supported belowthe separator-frame, and a Wobbler, substantial] y as and for thepurposes specified.

5. The combination of a Vibrating separatorframe, pendent hangersprojecting below the 10 frame, a Wobbler-frame supported below theseparator-frame, adjustable beari ng-blocks for the Wobbler, and awobbler, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 20th day of 15 March, 1886.

\VILLIAM L. CARD.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT BLAIR, GEO. WALKER.

